Bag closure



C. R. HOLLIS BAG CLOSURE July 13, 1965 Original Filed Jan. 8, 1963 FIG. I

INVENTOR. a /V70lv ,9. flan/.5 BY g2 United States Patent 3,194,481 BAG CLGSURE Clinton R. Hollis, amden, Ark, assignor to International Paper Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Jan. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 250,131, now Patent No. 3,129,646, dated Apr. 21, 1964. Divided and this application Dec. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 337,119

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-62) This is a division of US. Serial No. 250,131, filed January 8, 1963, now US. Pat. No. 3,129,646.

This invention relates to the manufacture of bags, especially paper bags of the multi-wall variety. More particularly, it relates to a process of and an apparatus for making closures for such bags and the products of such process and apparatus.

It is known that, in the field of pasted closures for multiwall bags, the utilization of the so-called stepped-in bag has come to the fore since the mid-1950s. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,761,612; 2,810,509; and, 2,875,- 944. It is also known that the manufacture of stepped-in bags requires complicated and space-consuming machinery which is expensive to purchase and to maintain. Such machinery includes tubers, such as those manufactured by Windmtiller & Holscher of Lengerich i. Westphalia, Germany, which require a multiplicity of patterns, knives, etc., to enable the production of a full line of multiwall bags. It also includes bottomers such as those covered, for example, by US. Pat. Nos. 2,570,047; 2,753,769; and, 2,887,012. Again, this machinery requires hundreds and even thousands of square feet of floor space to give the manufacturer of bags an adequate production range.

The product of this invention is a new and particularly advantageous glued or pasted bag closure for open mouthed or valved multi-wall bags which is siftproof and as strong as or stronger than any known pasted or sewn bag closure. One of its advantages is that, along with the apparatus of the present invention, a conventional tuber (rather than a stepped-in bag tuber) which turns out flushcut multi-wall tube ends can be used for making it. Such a tuber, of course, is much simpler in design and opera tion than the stepped-in bag tuber and it requires less maintenance and consumes less space. And the apparatus or bottomer of the present invention is surprisingly simple and sturdy in construction, needs a minimum of care and upkeep, and fits, in its standard embodiment and with ample room for its operator, into a space of roughly 24 to 36 sq. ft. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure hereinafter and the attached drawings.

Broadly viewed, the present invention comprehends taking in hand literally or mechanically a flat bag tube which has opposing surfaces, travelling the normally flush-cut tube end laterally, slitting the end longitudinally at spaced intervals to define a plurality of tongues, and folding each ice alternate tongue toward one of the opposing surfaces. Preferably, the process of the present invention is continuous and also includes the positioning of a tape about the tongues and over the tube end and an application of adhesive to conjoin the tape, the tongues, and the tube end. The apparatus of the present invention comprehends a combination of mechanical elements which is capable of performing the process and producing the products of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the present invention and the manner of operation and result comprehended thereby, reference should be had to the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partially broken away, of the product of the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional end view of the product of FIGURE 1, taken along line 22.

A specimen 1% of the tubes having the desired closures of the present invention is reflected in FIGURES 1 and 2 and comprises a laterally disposed plurality of tongues lime defined by longitudinal slits in the tube ends at spaced intervals, each alternate tongue being folded toward one of the opposing tube surfaces, and a tape having portions disposed over and enfolded about the tongues and over the tube ends. In addition, the closures include adhesive material which secures the tape to the surfaces of the tubes and to the tongues.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure on one end of a tube having opposing surfaces comprising a laterally disposed plurality of tongues defined by longitudinal slits in the end at spaced intervals, each alternate tongue being folded toward one of the opposing surfaces, and a tape having portions disposed over and enfolded about the tongues and a remaining portion positioned over the end.

2. A closure on one end of a tube having opposing surfaces comprising a laterally disposed plurality of tongues defined by longitudinal slits in the end at spaced intervals, each alternate tongue being folded toward one of the opposing surfaces, and a tape having portions disposed over and enfolded about the tongues and adhesively secured to one of the opposing surfaces and the alternate tongues folded toward it and a remaining portion positioned over the end and adhesively secured to the tongues.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,310,288 7/19 Nico 229*62 1,920,322 8/33 Rosmait 229-62 1,920,700 8/33 Jaite 229-62 2,724,543 11/55 Bauer 22962.5 2,978,852 4/61 Hopkins et a1.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE ON ONE END OF A TUBE HAVING OPPOSING SURFACES A COMPRISING A LATERALLY DISPOSED PLURALITY OF TONGUES DEFINED BY LONGITUDINAL SLITS IN THE END AT SPACED INTERVALS, EACH ALTERNATE TONGUE BEING FOLDED TOWARD ONE OF THE OPPOSING SURFACES, AND A TAPE HAVING PORTIONS DISPOSED OVER AND ENFOLDED ABOUT HE TONGUES AND A REMAINING PORTION POSITIONED OVER THE END. 